A controversial remark by Islamic cleric, Sheikh Sani Jingir, describing Christians as “infidels” while canvassing support for a Muslim-Muslim presidential ticket ahead of the 2027 elections has drawn condemnation from the vice presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress, Rabiu Kwankwaso, the chairman of the Northern Christian Association, Rev Joseph Hayab, and human rights lawyer, Deji Adeyanju.

Kwankwaso, in a statement on X, said the people of Kano did not endorse or support the divisive remarks.

Hayab accused the cleric of exposing what he described as the religious discrimination and marginalisation Christians in Northern Nigeria had endured for decades, while Adeyanju warned that the rhetoric could deepen religious divisions and threaten national unity.

The PUNCH reports that Jingir made the controversial remarks at a political gathering organised by the Jama’atu Izalatil Bid’ah Wa Iqamatus Sunnah in Kano.

The event was attended by Kano State Governor, Abba Yusuf, and his Jigawa State counterpart, Umar Namadi, among other political figures.

In a video circulating on social media, Jingir renewed his support for Muslim-Muslim presidential tickets, commending President Bola Tinubu for adopting the arrangement in the 2023 presidential election.

“Special thanks to my (political) hero, Bola Tinubu, who raised the flag of this political ideology, describing it as a purely Muslim-Muslim coalition,” he said.

“I am among the staunch advocates of the Muslim-Muslim ticket, and I call on you to come together for a Muslim-Muslim ticket,” the cleric added.

Jingir acknowledged opposition to the arrangement by Christians and other religious groups but questioned whether campaigning for a Muslim-Muslim ticket amounted to wrongdoing.

“Have I stopped the Christians from their own slogans? Have I stopped traditionalists from a similar campaign?” he asked.

Reiterating his position, he said, “But as a Muslim, I repeat it, Muslim-Muslim! No going back on this.”

He urged Muslims to unite and use their numerical strength to advance their political interests, describing Christians as “infidels” in the process.

“I urge all of us here to go and get our voters’ cards ready. Let’s show the infidels their limit, who claims they are more populous than us in Nigeria. They are lying,” he said.

Kwankwaso, however, expressed concern over the comment, describing it as troubling.

In a statement posted on X (formerly Twitter), Kwankwaso said, “At this critical moment in our nation’s history, statements that promote division and disunity must be firmly discouraged.

“It is particularly troubling to hear such rhetoric from a religious leader of Sheikh Jingir’s stature and influence.

“Let it be clearly stated: the good people of Kano do not endorse or support these divisive remarks.”

The former Kano State governor said political and religious leaders alike carry a solemn responsibility to uphold truth, foster unity, and advance reconciliation.

“We must not lend our voices to utterances capable of undermining the very foundation of our nationhood.

“The 2027 general elections will be an opportunity for Nigerians to reward good governance with resounding support and to reject poor performance at the polls. This administration has earned the latter,” he said.

Reacting during an interview on Channels Television’s Morning Brief on Monday, Hayab said the incident had stripped away what he described as the “pretence” surrounding claims of religious persecution in Nigeria.

“There is always a day when you will no longer pretend. We have been living in pretence in Nigeria, lying to ourselves that we are together, lying to each other that there is unity and lying to each other that we are co-citizens.

“But for us as Christians in the North, we know these preachers have always been there for all these decades. So, I think Sheikh Jingir just found an opportunity to open up what has been happening in secret,” Hayab said.

The NCA chairman expressed concern that the remarks were made in the presence of political leaders who, according to him, neither rejected nor rebuked the cleric.

“The man did not just say it in his room. The man said it in the presence of three governors, and they were all smiling.

“An action that would have been frowned upon, an action that would have been rebuked, an action that would have been rejected instantly,” he stated.

Hayab said the controversy should end the debate over whether Christians were being discriminated against or persecuted because of their faith.

“Some months ago, we had controversy in this Nigerian debate around whether Christian genocide is happening and whether Christians have been persecuted. Many people said, ‘No, that is not true.’

“Today, Nigerians, you do not need to ask another question unless you want to pretend. So, the pretence has ended. We can see it clearly. We can hear it clearly,” he said.

He challenged the governors who attended the event, the Federal Government and politicians being promoted by Jingir to publicly state their positions on the cleric’s comments.

“We are waiting to see the reaction of those governors. Whatever stopped them from reacting that day is another different thing. We are going to see what they are going to say.

“Then, we will see the reaction of the Federal Government. We will see the reaction of those candidates whom the man is campaigning for, whether they like such,” Hayab added.

The Christian leader stressed that the controversy was not about the constitutional right of Muslims to support candidates of their faith but the language used against fellow Nigerians during political mobilisation.

He argued that Tinubu and Vice President Kashim Shettima were not elected solely by Muslims in the 2023 presidential election, noting that the All Progressives Congress also secured votes in Christian-majority states.

“Will you tell me that the current Muslim-Muslim ticket that you claim to have pushed was only elected by Muslims? No, sir. I can count names of states that are mostly Christian. The man won in those states.

“So, it was not just the Muslims that voted for him. Even though we had concerns and advised that there should be a balance for fairness, we were not going to war to install anybody or anything.

“We only wanted understanding and togetherness, as enshrined in our Constitution,” Hayab said.

He condemned the description of Christians as “infidels,” saying political differences should not degenerate into religious insults.

“If you respect me, you do not come out publicly and make such a derogatory statement against me, against my faith, just for politics.

“It is no longer politics. It is the reality that has been going on,” he said.

Hayab also renewed his call for religion to be included in Nigeria’s national census, arguing that reliable demographic data would help address competing claims over religious population and numerical strength.

In his reaction, Adeyanju described Jingir’s comments as “divisive” and capable of fuelling religious tension in the country.

He urged religious leaders to respect Nigeria’s religious diversity and use their influence to promote peace and unity.

“I condemn the recent rhetoric of Sheikh Yahya Jingir as divisive and capable of fuelling religious tension. Nigeria is a plural society, and our Constitution recognises and protects that plurality.

“Religious leaders should respect Nigeria’s plurality and use their influence to promote peace and unity rather than sowing discord between Christians and Muslims,” Adeyanju said.

The lawyer also questioned whether the Muslim-Muslim ticket had improved the welfare and security of Nigerians.

“Has the Muslim-Muslim ticket put food on the tables of Nigerians, solved insecurity, unemployment, inflation, or strengthened the Nigerian passport and Nigeria’s standing in the world?

“We must look beyond religion and judge leadership by its impact on our lives as Nigerians,” he said.

Adeyanju warned that rhetoric pitting one faith against another could worsen existing divisions.

“Any rhetoric that pits one faith against another is one that only deepens our divisions and fuels agitations across the country.

“Clerics and politicians must stop provoking law-abiding citizens and learn to respect our different religions, cultures and ethnicities. Nigeria belongs to all of us,” he added.

The controversy comes amid renewed political debate over the Muslim-Muslim ticket ahead of the 2027 elections.

The APC fielded Bola Tinubu, a Muslim from the South-West, and Kashim Shettima, a Muslim from the North-East, as its presidential and vice-presidential candidates in the 2023 election.

The same-faith ticket attracted criticism from Christian groups and some political actors, who argued that it failed to adequately reflect Nigeria’s religious diversity.

Supporters of the arrangement, however, maintained that the Constitution does not require political parties to field candidates from different religious backgrounds and argued that competence and electoral choice should take precedence over religious considerations.